The New Student's Reference Work/Jamestown, Va.

Jamestown, Va., is situated on a small peninsula, which lies off the northern bank of, about 35 miles above where this river broadens into and empties into. As early as 1526 some Spaniards tried in vain to settle in the neighborhood. In 1607, on May 13, three British ships, sent from London by the London Company, under Captain Christopher Newport, landed their crews and about 105 colonists upon this low-lying peninsula, where it was hoped to rest secure from Indian attacks. Edward Wingfield was chosen president by a council of six who had been appointed by the London Company. The ships sailed for England, leaving but a scant and wretched supply of food. The Indians threatened the colonists, while disease and mutiny were added to hunger. This year occurred Smith’s romantic adventure with the Indians, which seems to have resulted in much good for the colonists. But in spite of Smith’s resourcefulness only 38 survived till the ships returned with more colonists and with provisions. In 1608 Smith was chosen president, and it was chiefly due to his wonderful courage and skill in dealing with the Indians that the colonists were saved from massacre and that corn was brought in for food. The colonists for the most part were gentlemen and tradesmen, and could help themselves but little in the wilderness. Thus they struggled through the winter of 1608. In 1609 Smith suffered a terrible wound that compelled him to sail for Europe. An inferior grade of colonists arrived, who neither could work nor wished to try. The winter of 1609 therefore was a time of terrible suffering, known as the Starving Time. Of 400 men and women that Smith left only 60 survived till spring, when a small fleet that had been delayed by storm and wreck arrived with some little provision. The colonists, new and old, decided to abandon the settlement; but as they sailed down the river, they saw, far out in Hampton Roads, the long-boat of Lord Delaware’s ship, which told of a large and well-equipped fleet at hand. Sir Thomas Dale was then appointed high marshal, and with great firmness and wisdom brought peace to the colonists, compelling all to work by removing the privilege of sharing in the common store of the colony. A deputy governor, Argall, ruled despotically for two years (1617–19), so that, when George Yeardley was sent out as governor to supersede him, the people demanded self-government to secure them against such danger in future. Accordingly a House of Burgesses was summoned, the first representative assembly in America. This incident closes the separate history of Jamestown, which henceforth lived only as part of the colony and then the state. The town itself was burnt by Bacon (1676) and then abandoned as unhealthy; but a tower remains to mark its site, which now is largely under water.